The weather for the Deception Pass Challenge mini-triathlon was nasty last year and gorgeous this time around (Saturday, June 22), but the result was the same, Bellingham’s Jacob Hartsoch crossed the finish line first.

Oak Harbor’s Brian Loustaunau (2:00:35) recorded the best local finish, placing sixth overall out of 59 individuals. The Controllers (2:07:14) from Oak Harbor took the team title, topping nine other squads with the 15th-best overall time.

The triathlon included a half-mile swim in Cranberry Lake, a 13-mile bike ride over the roads and trails of Deception Pass State Park and a four-mile run up to Goose Rock, a 484-foot climb, and back along the sands of North Beach.

Hartsoch used a strong run to overtake early leader David Deschenes of Bellingham to win the race in 1:42:44.

The time was four minutes faster than his winning time last year (1:46:54) in the rain and mud.

Deschenes recorded the best swim (13:14), good for a 60-second lead over Hartsoch. He then added the best bike ride and upped the lead to 1:11 heading into the run.

Hartsoch’s 31:32 in the run pushed him by Deschenes (35.53), who finished in 1:46:54 and in third place.

Anacortes’ Michael Feist also caught Deschenes, running the final leg in 31:48 and finishing in second in 1:43:08.

Bellingham’s Susan Deschenes led the women, placing 17th overall in 2:12:35. Coupeville’s Amanda d’Almeida finished second among the women and 26th overall (2:21:26).

Neil Rixe of Coupeville earned the second-best finish among local runners, placing 14th in 2:07:10.

Estelle Johnson, spokesperson for the Deception Pass Park Foundation, which organized the race, said the “racers had a great time.”

She added the race had “several return participants even though we had lots of competition from Bellingham, San Juan and Seattle triathlons.”

All of the proceeds will go to the restoration of Civilian Conservation Corps buildings within the park, Johnson said.

Top 10 men (44 overall): 1, Jacob Hartsoch, Bellingham, 1:42:44; 2, Michael Feist, Anacortes, 1:43:08; 3, David Deschenes, Bellingham, 1:46:54; 4, Timothy Patmont, Seattle, 1:43:40; 5, Barry Miller, Edmonds, 1:58:47; 6, Brian Loustaunau, Oak Harbor, 2:00:35; 7, Dan Froula, Bellingham, 2:01:39; 8, Robert Kreek, Portland, 2:01:45; 9, Rich Lander, Bellevue, 2:02:02; 10, Adam Callahan, Seattle, 2:03:19.

Top 5 women (15 overall): 19, Susan Deschenes, Bellingham, 2:12:35; 26, Amanda d’Almeida, Coupeville, 2:21:26; 28, Marina Stoermer, Bellingham, 2:21:37; 31, Stephanie Glasgow, Anacortes, 2:26; 35, Jennifer McFarland, La Conner, 2:29.

Local finishers: 6, Brian Loustaunau, Oak Harbor, 2:00:35; 14, Neil Rixe, Coupeville, 2:07:10; 17, David Goodchild, Oak Harbor, 2:08:39; 22, Brian Tyhuis, Oak Harbor, 2:16:09; 24, Jeremy Fontenot, 2:20:15; 26, Amanda d’Almeida, Coupeville, 2:21:26; 28, James St. Pierre, Oak Harbor, 2:24:44; 30, Andy Mahoney, Oak Harbor, 2:25:46; 32, Chris Rowan, Oak Harbor, 2:27:28; 44, Jennifer Meyer, Oak Harbor, 2:47:05; 46, David Waner, Oak Harbor, 2:53:49; 47, Brian Hayes, Oak Harbor, 2:55:19; 54, Diane Cagle, Oak Harbor, 3:25:06; 55, Chad Boyer, Oak Harbor, 3:27:13; 56, Richard Adams, Oak Harbor, 3:27:13; 57, Jason McWhorter, Oak Harbor, 3:27:13.

Top 5 teams: 1, The Controllers, Oak Harbor, 2:27:14; 2, WIBC Derailleurs, Oak Harbor, 2:13.18; 3, Team Ferocity, Seattle, 2:13:51; 4, You Ain’t First You Are Last, Oak Harbor, 2:15:19; 5, The Flower Pedals, Oak Harbor, 2:19:34.

=================

Jacob Hartsoch enters the final mile on the way to winning the Deception Pass Challenge mini-triathlon.